Cheshbon HaNefesh: The Power of Gratitude Welcome to the 19th installment of our Cheshbon HaNefesh series for Elul. Today, we're focusing on reciprocating kindness by reflecting on all the ways Hashem has saved us from misfortune, afflictions, and diseases. This is an important cheshbon —an accounting—because we often take our health and well-being for granted, only recognizing blessings when something goes wrong. When you see people suffering from illness, hunger, or other misfortunes, you might feel a pang of guilt. Why them and not me? We are all sinners, after all. Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, in his commentary on Chovot HaLevavot , points out that a major deficiency in our service to God is our lack of gratitude and praise. We don't thank Him enough, and we fail to repent when we should. And yet, despite our shortcomings, Hashem continues to bless us with kindness. This reflection should lead to a sense of profound gratitude. It's an opportunity to thank Hashem for sparing you and to repent for your lack of service. As the Torah tells us, "If you listen carefully to the voice of Hashem your God, and do what is right in His eyes… I will not bring upon you any of the diseases I brought upon the Egyptians" (Exodus 15:26). The Sages teach us that the cause of illness is often spiritual, not just natural. As Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa said, "The snake does not kill, sin kills." We are protected not because of our own merit, but because of God's grace. This is what King David was referring to in Tehillim: "You will tread on the lion and the viper; you will trample the young lion and the serpent" (Psalms 91:13). Why? "Because he yearns for Me, I will deliver him; I will elevate him, for he knows My name" (Psalms 91:14). Our connection to Hashem is what truly protects us. The Seudat Hoda'ah of Nothing A beautiful story illustrates this point. A man was in synagogue and saw a fellow congregant make a Seudat Hoda'ah —a meal of thanksgiving—because he had survived a car accident. A few weeks later, another person made a Seudat Hoda'ah because he had recovered from a serious illness. A week after that, a third person made a Seudat Hoda'ah for no apparent reason. When asked why he was celebrating, he replied, "I see everyone is making parties for the things that happened to them and they were saved. Nothing bad happened to me, and I am celebrating that." This is the highest form of gratitude. It's the recognition that we are constantly being saved from dangers we don't even know exist. This is the definition of the blessing we recite: HaGomel l'chayavim tovot she'gemalani kol tov —"The One who bestows kindness upon the guilty, who has bestowed all good upon me." We are those "guilty" people who are constantly being protected. The plane we took didn't go down. The car trip on the dangerous road was safe. We didn't get sick from the food we ate. Our health is not a given; it's a gift. Today's cheshbon is about remembering that you are being saved every single moment and recognizing that this is not because of your own merit, but because of God's boundless kindness.